Applicator assembly for a cosmetic product, such as mascara, and corresponding applicator

ABSTRACT

An assembly for the storage and application of a cosmetic product. The assembly includes: a body which is provided with an opening and includes a reservoir capable of containing the product; an applicator capable of coming into contact with the product and of being charged with a given amount thereof and retaining structure for ridding the applicator of excess product. The applicator has a rod carrying a product-application structure which is to apply the product, the structure for retaining the product being connected to the body and/or to the rod. The field of use of the invention is that of cosmetics, more especially that of &#34;mascaras&#34; to be applied to eyelashes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an applicator and an assembly for the storageand application of a cosmetic product, especially "mascara" to bedeposited on the eyelashes, or even another product such as a pasty ormore or less viscous lipstick.

2. Description of the Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 3,998,235 discloses an "adjustable" applicator comprising:

at least one axial rod;

a structure for the application of the product, which structure iscarried by the rod and comprises adjacent surfaces for the applicationof the product;

manoeuvring means for adjusting the axial spacing between theapplication surfaces in order to optimise the action of the applicatorand the amount of product to be applied.

In spite of that, there are still problems, especially concerning theclogging of the applicator, charging with an amount of product which issometimes inappropriate (especially too great), or drying and/or loss ofquality of the product. In particular, there is a problem concerning themanner of manufacturing the applicator in such a manner as to obtaineffective and reliable adjustment of the application surfaces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With a particular view to solving the last problem, the inventionproposes to manufacture the application structure of the applicator insuch a manner that it comprises:

at least one first member defining the surfaces for applying the productand, connected thereto,

at least one second, resiliently deformable member for adjusting theaxial spacing of the surfaces from one another, under the action of themanoeuvring means.

Thus, the application structure of the invention comprises two distinctelements (or assemblies of elements) which cooperate with one anotheralthough they are capable of fulfilling separate functions: on the onehand, a support structure for the surfaces for applying the product and,on the other hand, one or more member(s) of resiliently deformablematerial for adjusting the axial distance between two successiveapplication surfaces of the support.

Advantageously, according to another, complementary feature of theinvention:

the first member comprises a filamentary structure to which bristles forthe application of the product are attached;

the second member comprises a tube which is resiliently deformableaxially and on which the filamentary structure is arranged;

and the rod comprises two parts which are movable with respect to oneanother and are formed by a first axial rod, about a first portion ofwhich is arranged a second, hollow, axial rod and about a second portionof which is arranged the resiliently deformable tube which is interposedand retained for its axial adjustment between the second, hollow, rodand a bulging portion arranged at a free end of the first rod.

In order to optimise efficiency requirements in respect of adjustmentand manufacture, it is also recommendable for the adjusting tube tocomprise at least one peripheral groove in which the filamentarystructure is arranged, for its axial adjustment.

In addition, in order to disassociate as far as possible the functionsof "application support" (performed by the first member) and of"adjustment of the axial spacing between the application surfaces"(performed by the second member), a likewise complementary feature ofthe invention provides that the first member may be substantially devoidof spring capacity.

Another problem which the invention is intended to solve concerns thecleaning of the rod and the drying of the applicator.

The prior art, especially FR-A-2 390 917, EP-A-161 980 or EP-A-0 002301, discloses assemblies which comprise, in addition to an applicator,a body provided with an opening and including a reservoir capable ofcontaining the product to be applied, as well as product-retainingmeans, which are connected to the body or to the rod of the applicator,for ridding the latter of excess product. The above-mentioned documentseven propose different solutions for obtaining "variable drying" of theapplicator.

There are, however, still imperfections in the performance or theefficiency of these solutions which the invention intends to solve byproposing an assembly in which the means for retaining excess productcomprise a device for drying the application structure and for cleaningthe rod, the device being arranged and retained inside the body andcomprising a first and a second portion for retaining the product, whichportions are spaced axially from one another, and having an internalpassage capable of receiving the applicator in a sliding manner.

The device in question may be slidably mounted in the body and may havea variable diameter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the invention will be appreciated moreclearly from the following description which is given with reference tothe appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view, in longitudinal median section, of theassembly according to the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 show, in partial longitudinal section, two successivestages of the withdrawal of the applicator from the body;

FIG. 4 is a view of the applicator only;

FIG. 5 is a detail view of the application structure;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along V--V of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of a variant of theassembly;

FIG. 8 is a partially external view, partially in longitudinal section,of another variant; and

FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of the resilient adjusting member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following is limited to the single example of "mascara", althoughthe assembly of the invention can be used for other products. The term"mascara" is to be interpreted as covering a more or less viscous orpasty make-up product for the eyelashes or the eyebrows.

Referring first of all to FIGS. 1 to 3, it can be seen that the device 1according to the invention has an axis 20 and comprises an applicator 2carrying an application structure 4 for applying mascara which isaccommodated, in the closed position of the assembly, in a body 6.

The body 6, which can be separated from the applicator 2, is hollow todefine an internal mascara reservoir 10 having a hollow neck 12 at oneend. This neck 12 comprises towards its opening a housing 22 defined bya peripheral internal groove partially delimited by an abutment shoulder13.

The applicator 2 comprises a rectilinear axial rod 26 which carries theapplication structure 4 at one end and is equipped at the other end witha handle 24, which is in this case hollow, forming the cap of the body6.

The structure 4 comprises adjacent substantially radial applicationsurfaces 28 for charging and applying the mascara, here with combing ofthe lashes, and at least one resiliently deformable axial tubular block30 which is connected to or associated with the surfaces 28 for theadaptation of a relative axial spacing of the surfaces from one another.

In the case in question, these surfaces 28, which are distributed alongthe rod substantially transversely to the axis 20, belong to a helicalstructure 40 carrying synthetic bristles 32. This helical structure 40,which is filamentary, here comprises at least one thread, preferably ametallic thread, which is flexible and fine (a few tenths of amillimetre in diameter) and which is wound on itself to form one or moretwists where the bristles are locked. The twist is arranged tightly, inthe manner of a helix, around the tubular block 30 which to some extenthere constitutes its support and enables it to be adjusted, since thehelical structure 40 thus formed may have (practically) no springcapacity.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the block 30 (for example produced froman elastomer having a rubber-like consistency or from another syntheticrubber) also has on its (circular) external surface a continuous helicalgroove 34, of axis 20, which is capable of receiving the helicalstructure 40 tightly. The tubular block 30 can participate in thecharging with product and in its application and, for that purpose, maycomprise peripherally open cavities 35 for charging with mascara. Thesecavities here comprise a continuous helical groove which is axiallyoffset relative to the groove 34. The tubular block 30 may also exhibita roughness and/or porosity adapted so that it can retain mascara on itsexternal surface (even outside its grooves 34 and 35).

Especially if the helical structure 40 does not have a spring quality,it has been found to be preferable to act on it, in order to adjust itspitch, by way of the block 30 to which it is connected. This is not,however, compulsory (if direct action is envisaged, the block 30 actssubstantially as a "damper" especially at the passage of the drier 62).

Be that as it may, in order to ensure the adjustment of the pitch, ithas been provided here that the rod 26 be in two coaxial parts, namely ahollow external rod 44 mounted to slide freely about an internal rod 42.The part 42 extends as far as into the handle 24, to one end of which itis secured via a securing head 46 which is accessible from the outsideand which rotates freely without translation relative to the handle. Theparts 42, 44 are rotationally secured thanks to locking means, such asan axial tongue 54 and its complementary slot 56.

The tubular block 30 is mounted around the part 42 having a smallercross-section, with its first end 36 here fixedly connected to the part42 (towards its free end 42a), the second end 38 being supported againstthe shoulder formed by the bulging free end 44a of the part 44.

The manoeuvring means acting on the member 30 to adjust the spacing ofthe surfaces 28 comprise, in addition to the rod 26, a member 48 for therelative sliding of the parts 42 and 44. This control member 48, whichis stationary relative to the handle 24 to which it is secured, is inthis case provided with a first tapped thread for screwing theapplicator onto the body and with a second internal tapped thread 50which is capable of cooperating with a thread 52 of the external rod 44.

Thus, any rotation of the handle relative to the fixed head 46 causesdisplacement (without rotation) along the axis 20 of the external rod44. Depending on the sense of rotation, either the ends 42a and 44a ofthe two parts of the rod will be moved closer to one another, byexerting an axial constraint on the tubular block 30 (the length ofwhich will be reduced), or these ends will be moved apart, by freeingthe tubular block 30 of the constraint, its length then increasing. (Itwould also be possible to provide for direct action on a helicalstructure 40 of spring quality.)

FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate the tubular block 30 under minimum constraint.The axial spacing between the surfaces 28 is then at a maximum and thegroove 35 is wide and shallow for a major application of mascara.

FIG. 4, on the other hand, shows the same applicator with its member 30axially compressed. The surfaces 28 are then closer to one another andthe groove 35 is narrower and deeper. In practice, this variation inlength may be from a few millimetres to a few tens of millimetres.

The assembly 1 additionally comprises product-retaining means in orderto remove any surplus mascara from the applicator. These means are firstof all means 58 for cleaning the rod 26 which are slidably mountedrelatively tightly along the rod to which they are permanentlyconnected.

In the case in question, the means 58 comprise a flexible discoidal ringproduced, for example, from an elastomer, which surrounds the externalrod 44 while being able to engage in a removable manner in the housing22 of the body 6 (where it then ensures that the body is sealed). On theapplicator 2 side, the sliding of the ring is stopped by a groove 60formed between two beads around the external rod 44, preferably in theimmediate vicinity of the structure 4.

In addition to this ring, a movable "drying" and cleaning device 62 hasalso been provided inside the body 6, at the upper portion of thereservoir 10, which movable device has internally, at the mouth end, anarrowed portion 16.

The flexible device 62 has an internal axial passage 66 traversable bythe applicator 2 in a fairly tightly sliding manner and in this casecomprises two portions which are each capable of cleaning the rod anddrying the application structure 4, namely a first portion 68 of fixedcross-section surmounted by a second portion 70 of variablecross-section. The cylindrical portion 68 here comprises deformableradial tongues 72, arranged transversely to the axis 20. With regard tothe portion 70, which is also cylindrical, it is axially slotted todefine several deformable tabs 74 which are naturally extendedsubstantially parallel to the axis 20 and are each provided with aninternal bead 78 for scraping the rod and drying the structure 4further. The areas 72 and 78 of contact with the applicator are spacedapart from one another axially.

Advantageously, the device 62 is mounted to be axially movable in thereservoir 10 at the level of its narrowed portion 16, between a first,non-constrained state (lower position in FIG. 1) where the tabs 74extend parallel to the axis 20, at a distance from the applicator, and asecond, constrained state (upper position, FIGS. 2 and 3) where theportion 70 is arranged in the narrowed portion 16, the lengtheningpieces 74 extending obliquely in the direction of the axis 20 until theyabut the applicator of which the hollow external rod 44 and thestructure 4 here have substantially the same outside diameter.

FIG. 7 illustrates a variant of the assembly in which the structure 4has an outside diameter greater than that of the external rod 44. In theupper position of the device 62, the ends of the tabs 74 are arranged inan area 80 of the body having an enlarged internal cross-sectionrelative to the narrowed portion 16. They can move radially away fromthe axis 20 when they come into contact with the structure 4, afterwiping the external rod 44.

The assembly 1 operates in the following manner: in the closed positionof the assembly, the structure 4 and a portion of the rod are immersedin the mascara; the ring 58 is locked in its housing 22 and the device62 is in its lower position, above the level of the mascara, the tongues72 being in contact with the external rod 44. When the cap 24 has beenunscrewed, the applicator is withdrawn from the body (arrow 82). Inaddition to drying of the application surfaces, triple cleaning of theexternal rod 44 is then ensured, respectively by the parts 68, 70 of thedevice 62 and by the ring 58, until the ring, having reached the levelof the groove 60, becomes separated from the body 6, being entrained bythe applicator. It will be noted that the drier 62 rises gradually asthe applicator is withdrawn, until it reaches its radially constrainedposition shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

When the structure 4 is no longer in contact with the device 62, thelatter can move down again by itself or can be returned to its lowerposition by the applicator when it is reintroduced into the body,returning the ring 58 to its housing 22 as it passes.

The invention is of course in no way limited to the embodimentsdescribed: the application structure 4 could comprise several tubularblocks 30 aligned along the axis 20, and separated by metal or plasticsinterposed members (for example washers mounted on the internal rod 42),defining the application surfaces and carrying bristles.

In the variant of FIG. 8, where the two members for supporting theadjacent application surfaces, 40', and for adjusting their axialspacing, 30', have been shown next to one another, these two members areproduced from plastics "spring effect" material, such as polyacetal(POM).

The member 40' comprises a twisted metallic thread 41 without a springcapacity which can optionally retain bristles 43 between its twists, thethread being wound in the shape of a helix. The helix thus formed is toengage in the helical groove 31 of the tubular member 30', one end ofwhich is applied against a bulging portion 55 formed at the free end ofthe rod 45. It will be noted that the shape of the bulging portion 55 isconical and that it carries bristles. It will also be noted that the twoconcentric rods 45, 47 have, at the end opposite the application area, athread and a complementary tapped thread, respectively, which aregenerally indicated 49 and ensure their relative displacement along theaxis 20 by relative rotation.

With reference to FIG. 9, it will be appreciated that it would bepossible to replace the member 30' having a peripheral helix by abellows member 30" which is resiliently deformable axially in accordancewith the same principle as above, it then being possible for the othermember (not shown) for supporting the application surfaces to be formedby a series of rings optionally provided with bristles and arranged inthe hollows or radial grooves 33 of the bellows.

We claim:
 1. Applicator for a cosmetic product, the applicator having anaxis and comprising:at least one axial rod; a structure for theapplication of the product, which structure is carried by the rod andcomprises adjacent surfaces for the application of the product;manoeuvring means for adjusting the axial spacing between theapplication surfaces in order to optimise the action of the applicatorand the amount of product to be applied, wherein the applicationstructure also comprises: at least one first member defining thesurfaces for applying the product and, connected thereto, at least onesecond, resiliently deformable member for adjusting the axial spacing ofthe surfaces from one another, under the action of the manoeuvringmeans.
 2. Applicator according to claim 1, characterised in that:thefirst member comprises a filamentary structure to which bristles for theapplication of the product are attached; and the second member comprisesa tubular block which is resiliently deformable axially and on which thefilamentary structure is arranged; and the rod comprises two parts whichare movable with respect to one another and are formed by a first axialrod, about a first portion of which is arranged a second, hollow, axialrod and about a second portion of which is arranged the resilientlydeformable tube which is interposed and retained for its axialadjustment between the second, hollow, rod and a bulging portionarranged at a free end of the first rod.
 3. Applicator according toclaim 2, characterised in that the tubular block comprises at least oneperipheral groove in which the filamentary structure is arranged, forits axial adjustment.
 4. Applicator according to claim 1, characterisedin that the first member is substantially devoid of spring capacity. 5.Applicator according to claim 3, characterised in that the second,adjusting member also comprises open peripheral cavities for chargingwith product.
 6. Applicator according to any one of claim 3,characterised in that the peripheral groove of the tubular block is inthe shape of a helix.
 7. Assembly for the storage and application of acosmetic product, this assembly having an axis and comprising:a bodyprovided with an opening and including a reservoir capable of containingthe product; an applicator capable of coming into contact with theproduct and of being charged therewith, this applicator comprising:atleast one rod; a structure for the application of the product, whichstructure is carried by the rod and comprises adjacent surfaces for theapplication of the product; manoeuvring means for adjusting the axialspacing between the application surfaces in order to optimise the actionof the applicator and the amount of product to be applied; andproduct-retaining means, which are connected to the body and/or to therod, for ridding the applicator of excess product, wherein theapplication structure comprises: at least one first member defining thesurfaces for applying the product and, connected thereto; at least onesecond, resiliently deformable member for adjusting the axial spacing ofthe surfaces from one another, under the action of the manoeuvringmeans.
 8. Assembly according to claim 7, characterised in that theretaining means comprise a define for drying the application structureand for cleaning the rod, the device being arranged and retained insidethe body and comprising a first and a second portion for retaining theproduct, which portions are spaced axially from one another, and havingan internal passage capable of receiving the applicator in a slidingmanner.
 9. Assembly according to claim 8, characterised in that thedevice for drying and cleaning is mounted to be axially slidable in thebody and has a cross-section which can be varied between a first statewhere the second portion of the device is at a radial distance from theapplicator and a second state where the second portion is locally incontact with the applicator, under the effect of a narrowed portion ofthe internal cross-section of the body.
 10. Assembly according to claim9, characterised in that the second portion of the drying and cleaningdevice comprises resiliently deformable tabs which extend substantiallyparallel to the axis of the assembly, in the first state, and areinclined relative to that axis, in the second state, with radial playfor adaptation to the diameters of the rod and of the applicationstructure.
 11. Applicator according to claim 2, characterised in thatthe first member is substantially devoid of spring capacity. 12.Applicator according to claim 3, characterised in that the first memberis substantially devoid of spring capacity.
 13. Applicator according toclaim 4, characterised in that the second, adjusting member alsocomprises open peripheral cavities for charging with product. 14.Applicator according to claim 11, characterised in that the second,adjusting member also comprises open peripheral cavities for chargingwith product.
 15. Applicator according to claim 12, characterised inthat the second, adjusting member also comprises open peripheralcavities for charging with product.
 16. Applicator according to claim 4,characterised in that the peripheral groove of the tube is in the shapeof a helix.
 17. Applicator according to claim 11, characterised in thatthe peripheral groove of the tube is in the shape of a helix. 18.Applicator according to claim 12, characterised in that the peripheralgroove of the tube is in the shape of a helix.
 19. Applicator accordingto claim 5, characterised in that the peripheral groove of the tube isin the shape of a helix.
 20. Applicator according to claim 13,characterised in that the peripheral groove of the tube is in the shapeof a helix.
 21. Applicator according to claim 14, characterised in thatthe peripheral groove of the tube is in the shape of a helix. 22.Applicator according to claim 15, characterised in that the peripheralgroove of the tube is in the shape of a helix.